The beauty of Korean art lies in simplicity, spontaneity and a feeling of harmony with nature. It values tenderness, a sense of balance, serenity and harmony. It is distinguished for its simple and elegant composition. Koreans have long valued simplicity, tenderness, a sense of balance, serenity and harmony, as is seen in art from East Asia. But Korean art is associated with the concept of naturalism, exhibiting a profound connection with the artist’s natural environment in its non-complex and harmonious composition. It is distinguished for its simple and elegant composition.

Korean traditional painting, also known as minhwa, has a rich history that dates back to the Joseon dynasty in the 14th century. This type of painting, with bright colours and depicting daily life, was created by anonymous common people following traditional forms. And is considered Korean folk art. Like many traditional art forms, minhwa incorporates a variety of symbolic elements that reflect the beliefs, values, and cultural traditions of the Korean people.

The art of Korean ink painting, known as sumukhwa or chwihanju, is a traditional art form that has been practised for over a thousand years in East Asia. In the course of Korean history, ink painting has been influenced by Chinese style and Japanese style. But over time, like other Korean art forms such as pottery, found its own unique Korean style. Also known as the Koreanization’ of Korean art.

Korean painting has a long and rich history, dating all the way back to the Three Kingdoms period of Korea (circa 57 BC – 668 CE) while they were under the influence of Chinese painting. Over the centuries, Korean art has developed its own unique artistic style, influenced by the country’s culture, geography, and history. In this blog, we will explore how Korean painting compares to Western painting traditions.

Nature has always had a prominent place in Korean art. The Korean term for landscape paintings, sansu, even translates as ‘mountains and water’, because landscape paintings almost always feature these two elements. Mostly seen in the form of great mountain peaks with a waterfall or luscious hills along a winding river. They are part of the ten longevity symbols known as shipjangsaengdo. The Korean appreciation of nature has a rich history and is seen throughout Korean culture. Dating all the way back to the tomb paintings of the Goguryeo kingdom, with a peak in the Joseon (Chosŏn) dynasty also called Yi dynasty, when it evolved as a major genre. But we will start with the Goryeo (Koryŏ) period.

Korean art has a long history. All the way back to the Stone Age. The earliest examples of votive sculptures, bas-reliefs and petroglyphs are dating from 3000 BC. Most famous are the Goguryeo polychrome tomb paintings, depicting everyday scenes of life in the ancient Three Kingdoms period. Although Korean culture and art has been influenced by Chinese and Japanese style in the past, as time has gone by, Korean art has developed its own unique identity and characteristics. In this blog, you will learn how this became to be.

Korean painting has always had different traditions. There is monochromatic art, made with black brushwork on handmade paper or silk. Works with colour, by amateurs as well as professionals. Many beloved genre scenes depicting animals, birds and flowers. And of course there is the colourful folk art, mostly made by common people, called minhwa. As well as traditional Buddhist element’s like Buddhist devotional scrolls (taenghwa), ritual arts, historic tomb murals and festival arts, which had an extensive use of colour.

Korean painting has, in the course of history, always had different traditions. There is the typical monochromatic art, made with black brushwork on handmade paper or silk. Art with elements from the Buddhist tradition, like devotional scrolls, ritual arts, historic tomb murals and festival arts, which had an extensive use of colour. And there is folk art, mostly made by common people, called minhwa. Korean art has, for a long time, been under Chinese influence, was obliged by Japanese tradition during the occupation period and inspired by European styles in the modern era. But Korean artists have always kept their own unique style, elements, traditional symbols and patterns. Which all have a meaning and representation. There are subjects that are still favoured today, that date all the way back to the early days of Korean painting.

Until the Joseon dynasty, the Chinese influence was prominently visible in Korean art. Which meant, for instance: Chinese painting done with Korean landscapes. But even though Korean painting has been influenced by Chinese, Japanese and European styles, it always pursued its own path.

Korean painting has a long history. Dating all the way back to the Korean tomb paintings, that were found in the Goguryeo tombs. They display dancers, hunting and spirits. Until the Joseon dynasty the primary influence was Chinese painting done with Korean landscapes, facial features, Buddhist painting. And an emphasis on celestial observation in keeping up with the rapid development of Korean astronomy. During the Golden Age of Korean painting (the mid-to-late Joseon period), Confucianism predominated. And even though Korean painting has been influenced by Chinese and Japanese styles, it still pursued its own path in the world of art.

Major events affect art, and art affects events. The interconnectedness of history and art is ever present in the art world. Wars, liberation, discoveries, freedom or censorship all have a big influence on art and tells us a lot about a culture, and it’s history. So in order to answer the question; what is traditional Korean painting, we need to travel trough time.